Overview
- A 47-year-old man walking his dog in Hachimantai, Iwate, was clawed on the head around 6 a.m.; police say a mother bear likely charged while a cub was nearby, and the victim was conscious when taken to hospital.
- An hunter in his 80s with a local association was injured on a farm road in Shibata, Niigata, late morning and remained conscious; local reports say he subsequently shot and killed the bear.
- Hanamaki Airport in Iwate temporarily closed its runway after a bear entered the area near the aircraft parking apron shortly after 1 p.m., according to the airport office and police.
- Sapporo City announced it culled a brown bear that repeatedly entered Maruyama Zoo; the adjacent Maruyama Park is fully closed in response to ongoing sightings.
- Across multiple prefectures, reported injuries are nonfatal, and police, municipal officials, and hunter groups are maintaining on-site patrols and public alerts as the situation develops.